More News

Lawlah’s in, out and in again for Prince George’s board

Friday, Oct. 6, 2006

Sen. Gloria G. Lawlah has returned to the race for one of four at-large seats on the Prince George’s County school board.

Lawlah (D-Dist. 26) of Hillcrest Heights won the third-largest number of votes among at-large candidates in the Sept. 12 primary although she dropped out of the race this summer.

Her apparent popularity prompted Lawlah to reconsider her options. ‘‘I am running for school board,” she said Monday. ‘‘I guess I’ll have to go to all the forums and do what candidates do. I’ll be at those forums.”

Lawlah’s detractors were disappointed, but not surprised, at her decision.

‘‘That’s too bad,” said Doris Reed, head of the Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel. ‘‘It’s unfortunate she didn’t stick to her word.

‘‘I think she’s going to try to overpower the other people on the board,” Reed said. ‘‘But fortunately, we’ve got some very strong people running, and I don’t think she’ll be able to do that.”

As the others struggle to make a name for themselves in what has by law become a countywide race, Lawlah’s 20 years in Annapolis, first as a delegate and then as a senator, gives her a leg up.

‘‘I still think she’s really, really going to be tough to beat,” said Mel Franklin, president of the Greater Marlboro Democratic Club. ‘‘It’s very likely she’s going to win.”

Franklin said Lawlah’s experience and connections in Annapolis and with county government, particularly in getting funding for education, will be a plus if she is elected Nov. 7.

‘‘She brings a lot to the table,” Franklin said.

Jan Hagey, an education activist and National Education Association official, said she ‘‘questioned Lawlah’s genuineness” when she learned Lawlah decided to run again.